Dam and lock



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. DU BOIS.

DAM AND LOOK.

Nb. 282,062. Patented July 31, 1883.

(No Model.) 7 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- J. DU BOIS.

I DAM AND LOGK. No. 282,062. Patented July 31, 1883.

0 will be impeded.

40 the line a; w.

'NITED STATES PATENT FFICEs JOHN DU BOIS, OF DU BOIS, PENNSYLVANIA.

DAM AND Lo o K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 282,062, dated July 31, 1883.

Application filed January 19, 1883. (No model.)

admission of water thereunder, as represented ,in various Letters Patent heretofore granted to me. XVhen these dams are made of great length it is found that they are somewhat flexible, and that the inflowing and outflowing water thereunder, varying momentarily in level at different points, will cause the dam to rise or sink more rapidly at one point than at another. The first part of my invention is designed to avoid this trouble by compelling the dam to rise and fall uniformly throughout its length; and to this end it consists in combining with the dam racks and coimecting-pinions distributed at suitable distances apart, or other equivalent devices.

Another difficulty encountered in the use of a long dam arises from the fact that the foundation may, under unfavorable conditions, settle unequally, and thus throw the hinges 'out of line, in which event the motion of the parts To overcome this trouble, I construct the hinges in such manner as to permit a limited sliding motion in the joint in a direction transverse to the axis, this being usually accomplished by slotting one of 3 5 the leaves to slide on the hingepin.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical cross-section of a dam containing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is across-section on Fig. at is a view of a modified plan wherein the pinions'are attached to the dam and arranged to move over the stationary racks. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of the dam in a modified form, a link-connec- 4 5 tion between the rock-shaft and the leaves of the dam being used in place of the rack and pinions. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the leaves or sections of the hinge by which the edge of the dam is connected to the foundation.

In its general construction and mode of operation the dam may be the same as that represented in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me January 11., 1881, No. 236,488.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the floor or foundation of the dam; B, the upper or upstream leaf, hinged at C to the foundation; D, the downstream leaf, hinged at E to the upper edge of B and connected at F by asliding joint to the foundation; and G, the inner leaf, having its downstream edge hinged to the foundation at H and its opposite edge arranged to rest freely under the leaf or apron D, all as in the patent referred to.

Suitable inlet and outlet fiumes and controllinggates having no connection with the present invention are arranged to control the passage of the water to and from the space he neath the leaves, as in my prior patents.

Referring now to the means for rendering the vertical motion of the dam uniform, attention is directed to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which represent the preferred arrangement. To the floor or foundation, in fixed bearings or boxes, I mount a horizontal shaft, K, extending lengthwise of the dam from end to end, or any required portion of its length. 011 this shaft, at any suitable distances apart, I secure a ries of pinions, L, and to the lower sliding edge of the dam I secure a corresponding se ries of rack-bars, M, which engage with the respective pinions. The pinions connected by the shaft are compelled to revolve in unison, and consequently compel theracks to move in like manner, the racks in turn compelling a uniform motion of the dam throughout its length, and thereby maintaining at all times and under all circumstances a uniformity in the height of the dam from end to end.

The racks may be mounted and guided in any suitable manner, but it is preferred, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, to arrange them with the teeth upon the under side, and to seat their edges in grooves or guides formed in fixed bed-plates M, bolted to the foundation. These bed-plates, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, are constructed with cavities or recesses toadmit the pinions. The shaft connecting the pinions is preferably extended beneath the floor or surface of the foundation, as shown in the drawings; but it may be otherwise arranged, if preferred. The rack-bars, arranged the latter from the entrance of sediment or other obstructive matters. 7

While it is preferred to employ the fixed pinions and movable racks as above described, the reverse arrangement may be adopted, as shown in Fig. 4;. In this example the longitudinal shaft to which the pinions are keyed is attached to and moves wit-h the lower edge of the dam, while the rack -bars with which the pinions engage are bolted fast to the foundation. The action of this second arrangement is essentially the same as that first described. Instead of locating the rack and pinions at the lower edge of the dam, they may be arranged within the same, represented by dotted lines in Fig. 1., in which it will be seen that the pinioil-supporting shaft is fixed to the floor or foundation and the rack-bars pivoted at one end to the under side of the dam, their opposite ends being arranged to move over the pinions as the dam rises and falls.

Still. another arrangement for accomplishing the same result as that produced by a .rack and pinion is represented in Fig. In this example the horizontal shaft is extended lengthwise within the dam and provided with a series of radial arms, (1, arranged in line, and each connected by a link, I), with one of the leaves of the dam. This arrangement, like the preceding one, will compel the dam to rise and fall uniformly throughout its l ength, but, being more expensive than the rack and pinions, will not be employed in ordinary cases.

The essence of my invention consists in com bining with the flexible dam the mechanism adapted to compel the uniform rise and fall at all points therein, and many mechanical devices adapted for this purpose will suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic.

Passing now to the second feature of the invention-the hinges to compensate for theinequalities or irregularities in the foundationreference is made to Figs. 1 and 6. Each hinge consists, essentially, of two leaves or parts, 0 and n, bolted, the former to the foundation and the latter to the leaf of the dam, the two being connected by a horizontal shaft or pivot-pin, p, as in the Patent No. 236,488, before referred to. The upper leaf or part, 11, however, instead of being constructed with a round hole cl osely fitting the shaft, is con.- structcd with a horizontal elongated opening or slot, 0, which permits the dam to move laterally on the shaft. This feature may be applied to the hinges at both edges of the dam, or to those at one edge only, as required. in

practice it is found that the hinge thus constructed will permit the hinge to adjust itself -in such manner that the dam will rise and fall with perfect freedom, and will remain tight at the hinges, although the foundation may vary to a limited extent from a straight line.

The present invention is restricted to those matters and things which are specifically claimed herein, and as to all matters which may be described and shown, but which are not cl aimed, the right is reserved to make the same the subject of a separate patent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In combination with a flexible dam, substantially as herein described, means, substantially described, acting to insure the uniform rise and fall of the dam at different points in its length.

2. In combination with a flexible rising and falling dam, substantially as described, ashaft extended lengthwise thereof, and means, sub stantially as described, connecting said shaft at various points with the dam, said connections adapted to insure the uniform rising and falling of the dam at the various points in its length.

In combination with a rising and falling dam, substantially as described, a longitudinal shaft, provided with pinions secured there to, and a series of rack-bars operating in connection with said pinions.

i. In combination with a flexible dam, sub stantially as described, a series of rack-bars attached to and moving therewith, a longi tudinal shaft in iixcd bearings, and a series of pinions secured to said shaft and engaging with the rack-bars.

5. In combination with the rising and falling dam, substantially as described, the rack bars attached thereto, the pinion, the conliectingsliaii't, and the rack-supporting guides M, constructed substantially as described.

{5. In a flexible rising and falling dam, substantially as described, the hinge, adapted, substantially as described, to permit both a swinging and a sliding motion. of the edge of the dam.

7. In combination with a flexible dam and its foundation, substantially as described, the hinge rod or pivot and the twohinge-sections a and 0, the former one provided with a slot to permit the lateral motion of the dam.

JOHN DU BOIS.

\V itnesses:

Pllilllll? T. Donor HA. nny S u rrmcv.

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